Less wine in France this year

Unfavorable weather conditions in virtually all important wine-growing regions will reduce this year’s wine production by 18 percent. up to 39.3 million hectoliters – the Ministry of Agriculture predicts in the latest forecast. This is 11.2 percent. worse than the 5-year average of 44.2 million hl.

The previous one, announced in early August, assumed 40-43 million hl before the start of the harvest. It was based on a better assessment of inflorescence in vineyards that were the last to be ready, especially in the Charente region, the ministry’s statistical data division, Agreste, said.

In 2023, France produced 48 million hl of wine, up 4% from a year earlier, allowing it to overtake Italy and Spain and take first place in the world. This year, in many vineyards, the phenomenon of la coulure, the falling of flowers and fruits, or the formation of loose clusters of fruits of unequal sizes (millerandage) occurred as a result of low temperatures (frost) and high humidity (rain).

A powdery mildew plague has appeared in most vineyards, with the Jura region suffering the most (losses amounted to 71%), the Loire Valley losing 30% of production and Burgundy-Beaujolais 25%. In Champagne, there will be 16% less wine, but it will still be 8% more than the average of the last 5 years. In the Bordeaux region, the total area under vineyards decreased this year by 8,000 m2, plant diseases and storms have resulted in total production losses of 10%. Only in Corsica has the situation improved thanks to the rains in August, wine production will increase by 9% compared to the 5-year average, although it will be 5% lower than in 2023.

Over the past three years, sales of red wine in department stores have fallen by 15%, white wine by 3% and rosé by 5%. This year, after 7 months, the popularity of red wine has fallen by 8.5% and rosé by 6%. Only white wine was equally attractive, said Jérome Despey, president of the wine council of the state institution FranceAgriMer. He is particularly concerned about the situation of wine producers in the south of France and the Rhône Valley.